Free Birds (Blu-ray) (2013)

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General		Extras
Category	Animation	Featurette-Behind The Scenes-Multiple Theatrical Trailer
Rating
Year Of Production	2013
Running Time	91
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Ads Then Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Jimmy Hayward
Studio Distributor	Relativity Media Roadshow Home Entertainment	Starring	Owen Wilson Woody Harrelson Amy Poelher
Case	Standard Blu-ray
RPI	?	Music	Dominic Lewis

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 English Descriptive Audio Dolby Digital 2.0
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	1.85:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English for the Hearing Impaired	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     So, the deluge of animated children's feature films continues unabated. This one was directed by ex-Pixar animator Jimmy Hayward (who also co-wrote the screenplay) and produced by Relativity Media along with animation/special effects house Reel FX. On the big screen it was not overly successful, taking about $110m worldwide, so probably broke even taking into account production and promotional costs.

     The story follows the adventures of Reggie (voiced by Owen Wilson) who is a smarter than average turkey. He lives on a farm and is trying to get his fellow turkeys to understand that they are just been fattened up for Thanksgiving. They are too dumb to understand and believe that when the farmer takes them away they are going to turkey heaven rather than the dinner table. One day a helicopter lands at the farm and the rest of the turkeys decide that they should throw Reggie out as a sacrifice to whatever it is. It turns out that the helicopter is the President of the United States looking for a turkey to 'pardon' on Thanksgiving and take to live at Camp David with the first family instead of being eaten. The president's daughter takes a shine to Reggie and he is selected for pardon. He is just starting to enjoy his new life at Camp David when he is kidnapped by another turkey, Jake (voiced by Woody Harrelson), a member of the Turkey Freedom Front.

Jake explains that there is a time machine that has been developed at Camp David and that he wants Reggie's help to steal it for an important mission. Jake's plan, which he says was given to him by The Great Turkey, is to steal the machine and use it to go back to the first Thanksgiving and get turkey off the menu. In a bit of a surprise given Jake's general lack of intelligence, they succeed and are transported back to the first Thanksgiving in 1621. Here they meet up with a local flock of turkeys and try to solve the problem. Reggie also meets and falls for female turkey, Jenny (Amy Poelher). Will Jake & Reggie succeed or are the turkeys all doomed?

     As you might be able to tell from the plot description this film is very silly and has too many twists and changes of scene. It is fun and enjoyable for what it is but it is certainly not going to make the list of the best 10 animated films of all time. It is light and silly but ultimately disposable. The voice cast are pretty good and the animation is marvellous. Kids will have fun with it but adults will probably lose interest quickly.

     The local Blu-ray set includes 3D and 2D versions of the film (on one disc) and details for an ultraviolet download.

Video

     The video quality is excellent.

     The feature is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio which is the original aspect ratio or close to it. It is 1080p HD encoded using the AVC codec.

     The detail and clarity is wonderful showing off the quality animation.

     The colour is also excellent bursting from the screen.

     There are no obvious artefacts.

     There are subtitles available in English for the Hearing Impaired. They are clear and easy to read.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     The audio quality is very good.

     This disc contains an English soundtrack in DTS HD-MA 5.1 and an Audio Descriptive track in Dolby Digital 2.0.

     Dialogue is clear and easy to understand throughout.

     The music is done in a big epic style which goes well with the epic silliness of the story. It was written by Dominic Lewis.

     The surround speakers were well used with lots of directional effects and atmosphere.

     The subwoofer provided significant support to the music and the action sequences.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

     A case of quantity over quality in the extras.

Menu

     The menu includes music and scenes from the film.

Birds Flipping History (1:24)

     Short school play about the great turkey which doesn't add much.

Animating Free Birds (4:34)

     Short featurette about the animation of one particular scene showing the build-up of layers.

Winging It: Animators in Action (4:29)

     Featurette on using the animators as acting reference for the movement of the birds.

Talking Turkey with composer Dominic Lewis (6:22)

     Probably the best of the extras as the composer discusses his approach, how he collaborated with the director and his views on film music more generally.

Shake a Tail Feather (0:19)

    Very short promo.

Theatrical Trailer (2:20)

    The Region A release is similar but does not include a 3D version. Those with 3D capability should definitely buy local.

    The video quality is excellent.

    The audio quality is very good.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall